Brownsville Public Library System Advisory Board

Brownsville Public Library System Advisory Board Monday November 8, 2021 Minutes Hybrid Present Celia Flores Feist, Rachel Ayala, Rubi Gonzalez, Juan Pequeño, Juliana Sosa, Alma Otiz- Knopp, Juan Guerra, Nurith Galonsky, James McCoy, Leonardo Delgado, Brenda Trevino, Cassandra Mendez, Lisa Rodriguez, Josephine Balboa, Courtney Taylor, Maribel De Leon. 1) Call Meeting to Order – Meeting was called to order at 5:31pm. 2) Discussion and Action of Approval of Minutes – Rachel motioned for August 8, 2021, minutes to be tabled for corrections and September 13, 2021, voted on, and actions approved. 3) Citizen Comment – No scheduled comments 4) Library Report – Brenda Trevino updated that the lights for the cross walk have been ordered and arrived and working on the logistic for install. Juan Guerra stated that he has met with internal services and the installation will be outsourced. Brenda Trevino stated that the extra lights for the Manzano entrance have been ordered and waiting for arrival. This will allow for a brighter and safer area. Juan Guerra stated that there will also be two (2) lights towards the Southmost Rd. area and four (4) lights for the Manzano entrance area. Brenda Trevino went on to state about programming in relation to Library Sign Up month in September, and all new members to the library were entered into a giveaway. Giveaways included: ball pit activity set for younger members, Nintendo Switch for the tweens, Beats headphone for the teens and Keurig for adults. She also stated that in October the Library had another successful Super Smash Brothers tournament, which included a costume contest. Turnout for this event was over 100 people. The library participated in the Haunted tour around the old city cemetery, in collaboration with the Historical Society. Alma Knop added that she was present for the haunted tour and was impressed with staff and how at the end of the tour they created a circle and told stories. Brenda Trevino then mentioned that the MakerSpace Advisors have begun their programming and held two (2) events in October, the DIY spine journal, and spooky shirts. Both events were very successful. a. Grand Re-Re-Re Opening of Southmost Branch Library – Presented by Kayla Trevino. This event was held in September, and it was huge success. She stated that she had a great group of staff that day and had a lot of happy patrons (more than 700 people attended). The library gave away tumblers and other BPL merchandise that eventually ran out because they did not anticipate such a high number of attendees. The library had ROCA perform, they brought their Folklorico dancers, Carlota dancers and had  Mariachis playing. The first performance was the Mr. Moon book signing and reading. The library purchased the board books to give to the kids so they could have them signed by the author. So, all participants got to walk away with a free book and no worries about paying for it. At the end of the night the Gladys Porter Zoo gave an animal presentation, and the kids loved that because they got to get in line and pet the alligators. The library also had carnival rides outdoors, provided by Rental World. One of the activities outside was the rock-climbing wall that was very popular. McDonald’s also came out with their party van; they did a raffle in which a lucky kid got to take an arcade game home for a week. Kayla stated that the staff and volunteers were amazing, and we look forward to hosting big events like that in the future. Presentation was not working, but Maribel De Leon stated she would forward all presentation to all the board members. Rubi Gonzalez commented that she was present for the event and was happy to see all the people out there, and she stated that you could see everyone was happy. She also stated her students commented that the library should do more events like this. Kayla Trevino said that they do plan to do more, and that the library has a great programming team for this. Juan Guerra said that this is just the beginning. b. Story Walk Update – Presented by Kayla Trevino. This item has been in the works for quite some time, and the library finally was able to get thing moving. Once things started moving, they moved quickly. The library partnered with Brownsville Parks and Rec. dept., initial point of contact was Damaris McGlone, Parks and Rec. Director. When Mrs. McGlone went on maternity leave, the library began to work with Grecia and Daniel from Parks and Rec., and they were amazing. The Story Walk is a way to combine Literacy with Movement and going out and doing thing outdoors. The story walk includes the story boards that people can read page by page as they walk down the trail. Each story board includes activities that the people can do as they move on to the next. Type of activates include do a little dance all the way to the next story board or point out five (5) things you can see and more. This gets the public to interact with the story and the outdoors in a way they could not do indoors. A different way to read a story. The library was able to get sixteen (16) stands installed, the stands were installed at the Southmost walking trail. The story boards begin on the International Blvd. side of the trail since the parabola is closer to that entrance and ends on the Southmost Rd. side. The stands have a plexiglass that can open so the story board can be switched out as often as the library would like. The first story is one that was free online and is titled “Big Dance” by Aoife Greenham. This story is available to the library for five (5) years but will not be left on the Story Walk for the five (5) years. The plan right now is to switch out the story boards quarterly, but this is dependent on getting permission from the publishers to use their stories. The Story Walk is sponsored by Let’s Move and Libraries, and they are a national movement that have been behind the story walk trend. The library has submitted their Story Walk to be featured on the Let’s Move and Libraries website for National Story Walk Week – November 15-19. On Sunday 14th at 2 pm the library will be hosting the first Story Time on the Trail. Juliana Sosa asked if there are trees on the trail, the answer was yes. 5) Discussion of Workplan FY 2022 – Brenda Trevino explained what the work plan is and how it applies to the library as whole and at each branch. She began with the items that  pertain to both libraries. First, the purchase and installation of deep freeze software to improve cyber security. Second, design and install designated breast-feeding areas at both libraries. This should reflect to the City lactation policy. Third, updating children’s furniture at both libraries. Fourth, updating and modernizing both marquees. Juliana Sosa asked how we plan to do this. Juan Guerra stated that the library is working with Planning, Multimodal, and Communications and Marketing depts. on this project. Brenda Trevino then went on to list what is being done at the Southmost Branch. First, updating furniture for the teen section, because Southmost did not have a teen section and now it does. Second, finalize the MakerSpace area. Third, work on the wall mural at the Southmost Branch Library. Rubi Gonzalez commented that this should be a community type of event, to build ownership for the Southmost community. Rachel Ayala commented that she spoke to both Porter and Lopez High school Principals about the students to volunteer at the Friends of the Library for community services hours, so they can build ownership. She would also like to see computer classes for adults. Juan Guerra stated that computer classes are coming soon and are in development. Brenda Trevino went on to list the plans for the Main Branch. First, refurbish the old BTV area for MakerSpace. Second to update wireless access points. Third, replace roof at the Main Branch. Brenda mentioned that the library has updated the collection at the Southmost Branch to match the one at the Main Branch, so the collection is now organized by genre. Staff is working on implementing the Task Force Ideas. Juan Guerra then added that the library is working on updating the library policies and should be brought up after the new year. Rachel Ayala asked if the library will still be doing Pictures with Santa. The answer was yes but will be different than the usual. Kayla Trevino stated that the library will be having a trail of lights and on the 13th have pictures with Santa at Southmost and on the 20th at Main. The trail will stay up till the end of year for patron to explore on their own. On the night of the events, there will be different stations for the patrons do different things and of course the kids will receive their gift. Rachel Ayala then suggested the library put in their request with Friends of the Library for financial assistance. Juan Guerra explained that they were still configuring the budget. Brenda Trevino announced that the library will also be participating in the Christmas parade this year. She said that the float the staff is building will promote the library’s upcoming addition, the Dino Wall, and as well as MakerSpace. It is a way to get the public excited for the upcoming additional services the library will be providing soon. Juliana Sosa asked if the there will be a Holiday Village this year and does the library have a house. Juan Guerra answered that there will be a Village this year. The library does not have a house, but the library should investigate it for the future with the parks dept. 6) Presentation of TSLAC Digital Navigators Grant Program – Presented by Courtney Taylor. TSLAC approached libraries to start a Digital Navigators program. The program is to provide a bridge through the digital gap to the patrons limiting the digital divide. The program could provide different resources, such as providing internet access at their house at no cost to them, providing technological devices (such as tablets or laptops), or providing learning software to improve digital literacy. The grant was billed to support either a single branch or multiple branches, and our library was able to qualify for up to $80,000. The library will build a digital navigator’s program for our community and allow additional training for staff. The library proposal would include the following: two (2) data bases-- LinkedIn Learning, and North Star. Both will help the community to build their digital skills  and literacy. Proposal also included equipment, and the library divided it by equipment to be used in house and equipment to be checked out by patrons. For in house the library requested iPad Pros, cases, apple pencils and storage carts. These iPads will be used for computer classes and MakerSpace programming. The library requested 40 iPads w/cases and apple pencils for check out. It would be 20 for each branch where a patron can check out the iPad and take it home with them for their own leisure. Proposal was submitted to TSLAC in September and were told that the library was accepted by TSLAC, and the project window will begin in December of this year and will run until November 2022. This grant is a reimbursement grant. This was a great collaborative effort between the Grants. Dept., Tech Services and MakerSpace. 7) Board Appointments – Maribel De Leon reminded the Board that we have four (4) positions coming up to the end of their terms and those positions are: Shannon Pensa, Juliana Sosa, Celia Flores-Feist and Juan Pequeno. The library board will be going to commission on December 7th for these positions and she encourages those who would like to reapply to please do so. She reminded the board that the selection of members is up to the discretion of the City Commissioner, but she hopes to see those board members who reapply back on the board. Juliana Sosa asked when the deadline is to reapply. Maribel De Leon answered that she everything must be submitted by Nov. 19th, but the commissioners will accept last min applications. Juliana Sosa asked if going out for appointments in December because the rules changed. Maribel De Leon answered yes, since commission are now only appointing board member in either July or December and the Library Board members terms end in January of the following year the only time to request appointments would be in December. 8) Adjournment – Rachel Ayala makes a motion to adjourn the meeting, and Rubi Gonzalez seconded. Meeting adjourned at 6:12pm.